Australia sets new processing priorities for Skilled Migration
Senator Chris Evans, Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has announced new priority processing arrangements for skilled migration visa applications. These arrangements take account of the changes to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) that came into effect on 1 July 2010, as well as the revocation of the Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL) and the Critical Skills List (CSL).
From 14th July 2010, The Department of Immigration will process applications in the following order (with highest priority listed first):
1. Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme.
2. Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on that state or territory's state migration plan.
3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - Schedule 3 in effect from 1 July 2010.
The new SOL can be found at : www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of-occupations.pdf
The SOL includes 183 highly valued occupations including managerial, professional, technical and trade occupations.
4. All other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received.
DIAC advise that 'the new arrangements have been designed to complement other recent changes to skilled migration to ensure that the Australian economy gets the skills it needs now.'
Further details can be found at www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/updated-priority-processing-arrangements.htm
If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please call our offices on 01244 321 414 or 0845 230 4390. We will be happy to discuss your position and review your options.
The Emigration Group - Visa and Migration experts since 1992.